express terms, to claim authority, by the Word of God, to exercise all manner of spiritual discipline within his own diocese.—Codex Jur. Eccl. Angl. p. 18.
Men should be persuaded, not forced, to forsake their sins; because God rewards not those who, through necessity, forsake their sins; but such as do so voluntarily.—Chrysost.
Be steady and fearless in the discharge of your duty, without failing in that respect which is due to higher powers.
Grant, O God, that I may have an eye to duty only, that I may fear no temporal evil, and be concerned only lest I should not in all respects please Thee my God.
Deut. i. 17. "The judgment is God's." As this should oblige all people to be afraid of a judgment or censure passed by men commissioned by God, so it should make us very careful that our judgment be such as is worthy of God, and agreeable to His will and Word.
1 Cor. xvi. 22. "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha." Here is a positive direction to the Church to excommunicate all such as plainly discover that they have no love for Jesus Christ,—who are scandalous or profane.
Since we are to give an account of the souls committed to our charge, we cannot be debarred of making use of all the means enjoined us by the Gospel to reduce sinners.
We ought to be thankful for the favours which we have received from religious princes; but if our benefactors require of us what is inconsistent with our trust, we then know whom we are to obey.
2 John 10, 11. "If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed,—for he that biddeth him God speed, is partaker of his evil deeds." Not to show our abhorrence of sin, is to consent to it. Men do not sufficiently consider the guilt of this, when they converse with notorious offenders without scruple. They partake with them in their sins; they harden the sinner; they forget the fidelity they owe to God and to his laws, and greatly hazard their own salvation.
Excommunication was never pronounced except where the case
